Lighkeepers employed various tools and implements when working and living at light stations. The item pictured here is an implement of significance to meet an important basic need of the keeper and family. Several of these would be used at the same time depending on the weather thus the use of this implement would not be continuous. The need to use this implement was greater at some stations and perhaps not at all at others. The use of such was not exclusive to light stations. What is this implement.?

Dave, I have pondered over this question for 3 days now and have not come up with anything remotely plausible. It must be an American thing to which I am unfamiliar. No doubt the answer is simple but it eludes me.It looks like a sieve of some sort or a steamer which sits on top of another solid pot with boiling water in it. It could also be a container for dirty sox which when left out in the rain allows the sox top get drenched and drained at the same time.

This implement was used in conjunction with meeting a most basic need of the keeper and his family. It was used only outside and very close to, in fact, connected to the dwellings and used only when weather conditions permitted.

You are very close but circling all around it. So before you and I become too dizzy I will give you the answer.

At many light stations collected rain water was the only source of clean fresh water.These implements were used as part of the roof water collection system. One such implement was positioned below the outlet of the each roof gutter pipe with the small end inserted into a pipe mounted flush with the foundation leading to the water cistern in the cellar. These implements or funnels were retained in an upside down position such that when rain commenced the initial rainwater from the roof containing dirt, dust, salt from ocean spray and deposits from birds would be discharged to the ground. Then the funnels were turned right side up to divert clean water to the cistern.

It was not uncomon with children around these funnels would often wander off to become items of creative play leaving the keeper with the chore of finding and retrieving them before they were needed.

Just like living with tank water like we did some years ago. What fooled me was the fact that I thought the "pot" was bottomless. The fact that it had a bottom was no clear to me from the photo as the floorboards are the same colour as the item.Good little puzzle Dave. Thanks for the entertainment and education.

Good point about the floor boards. Not good planning on my part for this photo. But then us old folks get confused easily and loose our bearings. That is why I made the addition on the floor of my ocean island hang-out.

That old house has been there since about 1888. It was built by lightkeeper Isaac Grant two years before he and his wife Abbie Burgess resigned from the Service. My grandfather acquired the house and land in 1947. Access is only by boat. The house has been maintained inside and out basically as it was was when built. I live there much the same way as lightkeepers of old but with no lamp in a tower or fog bell to tend -- and no lighthouse inspectors. The only modern conveniences are a propane stove and propane refrigerator.